As I was moving around the Wangsa Maju area, I observed that there was no lantern put up for the Chinese New Year celebration. I called up a high ranking officer and I am told that DBKL is on a costs cutting exercise due to the current state of the economy. I do accept that DBKL should embark on the costs cutting exercise so that the tax payers will not be over burdened.
However, DBKL should be mindful that its main function is to provide services to the KL residents. Therefore, it will be extremely difficult to cut costs and still maintain the existing services. DBKL should look into costs cutting in its’ administration expenditures, which have taken a big chunk of its annual budget.
Personally I feel that DBKL should still put up celebration decors for all the main festive seasons like Chinese New Year for now, Hari Raya, Depavali and Christmas. DBKL should be mindful that it is only once a year for the KL residents to celebrate their respective new year. Despite the cost cutting exercise, DBKL should still put up a few stretches of lantern in strategic places in all the Parliamentary constituencies in order to create some atmosphere for the Chinese New season.
It is hoped that DBKL should reconsider its decision on cutting costs for putting up some celebration decors for the said festive seasons.
